2016 Esiliiga


The 2016 Esiliiga is the 26th season of the Esiliiga, second-highest Estonian league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1992. The season began on 25 February 2016 and concluded on 6 November 2016.
Tulevik won the league, finishing with 89 points and were promoted to the Meistriliiga. It was their first Esiliiga title in history.

Teams

Stadia

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
Flora U21TallinnA. Le Coq Arena
Infonet IITallinnInfonet Lasnamäe Stadium
JärveKohtla-JärveKohtla-Järve SPK Stadium
Levadia U21TallinnMaarjamäe Stadium
Maardu LinnameeskondMaarduMaardu Stadium
Nõmme Kalju U21TallinnHiiu Stadium
SantosTartuTamme Stadium
Tallinna KalevTallinnKalev Keskstaadion
TulevikViljandiViljandi Stadium
VaprusVändraVändra Stadium

Personnel and kits

Managerial changes

Results

League table

Result tables

First half of the season

Second half of the season

Play-offs

Promotion play-offs

, who finished 4th, faced Pärnu Linnameeskond, the 9th-placed 2016 Meistriliiga side for a two-legged play-off. The winner on aggregate score after both matches earned entry into the 2017 Meistriliiga.

First leg

Second leg

Relegation play-offs

, who finished 8th, faced Welco, 3rd-placed 2016 Esiliiga B side for a two-legged play-off. The first leg originally ended 3–2 to Nõmme Kalju U21 but they were later ruled to have forfeited the match after fielding an ineligible player Henrik Pürg. According to the rules, the second leg was cancelled and Welco earned entry into the 2017 Esiliiga.

First leg

Second leg

Season statistics

Top goalscorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Eduard GolovljovInfonet II39
2 Vitali GussevMaardu Linnameeskond31
3 Kristen KährTulevik22
4 Peeter KleinNõmme Kalju U2120
5 Erik SorgaFlora U2117
6 Sander PostTulevik16
7 Alex MeinhardSantos14
8 Aleksei BelovTallinna Kalev13
8 Indrek IlvesTulevik13
8 Nikita KogerLevadia U2113
8 Edgar TurInfonet II13

Awards

Monthly awards

Esiliiga Player of the Year

was named Esiliiga Player of the Year.